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1912 Present meet Past UNDER CONSTRUCTION	By : Luckycharms Category: Harry Potter > Het - Male/Female > Draco/Hermione Views: 14307 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: SOME OF THE EVENTS PORTRAYED ARE BASED OFF OF REAL FACTS AND PEOPLE. I do NOT own any Harry Potter characters.That right goes to the AMAZING J.K. Rowling. I do own some of the made up people and places you will encounter.

Chapter List
- 30
- 31
- 32
YOU GUYS ARE THE BEST! Thank you so much for your kind reviews! I hope you enjoy this next chapter…to be honest though, I had no idea how to write this chapter lol. When goddess-of_dragons mentioned that they couldn’t wait to see the interaction with the Greengrass’s, my thoughts exactly were ‘me too’ haha. I kind of just went with it, so I hope it turns out okay because I legit had no idea what how to proceed!
This is also a Draco only POV!

Chapter 31- Even in the Darkest of Times
Sunday, April 8^th, 2001 01:08pm
The Greengrass’s arrival to the Manor was anything but happy. They were most likely even more upset that no one was in the study to greet them. Draco’s father had quickly rushed back to the study once he realized what time it was. His mother and Ginny had taken Hermione to one of the guest bathrooms on the same floor to freshen up, so Draco pulled Harry aside while the rest of the group made their way to his childhood bedroom to wait until the meeting was over.
“Potter?” Draco began as he stopped Harry from leaving the room.
“Hey Malfoy. What’s up? Harry asked with a weak smile as he turned around to face him.
“Thank you, you know, for coming. I…I don’t know what I would have done without you.”
“Don’t sweat it mate. It’s not the first time this has happened.” Harry shrugged.
“What do you mean it’s not the first time?” Draco questioned with a raised brow.
“Well, after the war, Hermione used to get awful nightmares about this room. Ron couldn’t do anything to console her so he always called me. I tried everything from holding her, to warm milk to help her sleep, to using a dreamless drought to knock her out. After about a week, I realized she needed something different than the usual comfort strategies and none of us wanted to keep drugging her. Her nightmares became a regular thing that happened almost every day, until the method that you just witnessed, finally slowed down to once a week, then to once a month. Ron still couldn’t get it under control though, no matter how hard he tried. To be honest, between his own nightmares, helping George, and dealing with Fred’s death; adding Hermione’s problems on top of it all is what most likely helped drive him away from her.”
“He left her because he couldn’t deal with her pain? That is so fuc-”
“That is not what I mean Malfoy.” Harry cut in “I mean he had a lot to deal with. The war was just as hard on him and his family, if not harder. He lost a brother and almost lost another due to suicide.”
“Suicide? George? Hermione never told me that part.” Draco’s face fell in concern.
“She couldn’t have…she doesn’t know and we want to keep it that way.” Harry sighed while putting his hands in his pockets. “We didn’t want to tell her that that was the main reason Ron moved into the shop with George. We didn’t want to give her another reason to wake up screaming at night. She was doing so well. Once she moved in with Ginny and I, it became easier to help her since I was only down the hall. After I finally calmed her down, which sometimes was a few minutes and other times it was a few hours, we would stay up all night and just…talk. I think it helped her a lot. She hasn’t had a nightmare in a few months.”
“But…this wasn’t a nightmare. She was fully awake. I knew I shouldn’t have let her walk into this room!” He cursed himself aloud.
“This isn’t your fault Malfoy. She suffers from PTSD. Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder; breakdowns can happen at any time of the day, awake or asleep. Besides, we both know her; she would have found a way to get in this room with or without you. I am just glad you and your mother were with her. If she was alone?” He paused to pinch the bridge of his nose and let out another deep sigh. “Anyway, no one could have predicted that any of us would ever be in this house again, let alone this very room, but I think this is a good thing. She faced her fears head on and in a way, so did you.”
“Me?” he asked somewhat shocked.
“Yes you. Hermione told me about your nightmares. Don’t worry, I won’t tell anyone. She only told me because I know how to deal with them. I know you are also suffering from PTSD; you just haven’t had someone to help you recover. I mean, be honest Malfoy; when was the last you were ever actually in this room other than today?”
Draco looked at the raven haired man standing before him confused as the thought back to when he stood in this very room before.
“The last time I was in this room, was when…” he trailed off.
“When we were all captured and you lied to help us?” Harry finished for him. “You have nightmares of being frozen in place, not able to help her because you too, never faced your fears. But you did something this time. You did everything you could to help her, even getting past your selfish ego to call me. You didn’t freeze.”
Harry looked at him with hopeful eyes, but Draco couldn’t bring himself to say anything, so instead he looked at the ground to process everything.
“There is no shame is asking for help Malfoy.” Harry admitted when Draco didn’t speak for a while. “That is the first step to conquering your nightmares. You can’t always use Hermione as a shield to comfort you. She won’t always be there. What if you fall asleep on the couch or accidently at work? Or while holding your newborn?”
“You’re right…” Draco confessed as he raised his head. “I don’t want to hurt Hermione or our future children…I need…help. Can…you help me?”
“Of course!” Harry pipped up. “We can schedule meetings throughout the week. We will talk about the details later but I have to ask you to stay at my house for at least a month and before you argue,” Harry raised a hand “It is only to monitor your nightmares. How frequent and how bad they can get. You don’t have to sleep away from Hermione but I will ask you a ton of questions on your sleeping habit before she came into your life. It will also help me discover different ways to calm you down that I can teach Hermione. I will even teach you how to help her.”
“Okay…Thanks Potter.”
“You’re welcome Malfoy. Now let’s get you to your meeting. We don’t want to upset the Greengrass’s anymore than they already are.”
The pair walked out of the room and down the hall to the study. Once they walked in, Draco saw Mr. and Mrs. Greengrass angrily sitting in front of his father’s desk as Astoria sat off to the side. His father was standing behind the desk trying to calm the couple down but was obviously failing.
“Are you kidding me?” Mr. Greengrass yelled out. “You have made us wait here for a half hour past our scheduled meeting to what? Take care of a filthy mudblood that has broken up a future marriage!”
“Excuse me?” Draco asked in shock and anger.
“You boy!” Mr. Greengrass stated in anger as he rose from his chair and turned to Draco pointing a finger at him. “You have ruined everything! You will break off this fake engagement to that mudblood and you will fix this by reinstating the marriage contract to my daughter or else!”
“Are you actually trying to tell a Head of House what to do? I am no boy Mr. Greengrass and if you would like to discuss this as adults I would be happy to, but I will not tolerate you shouting and throwing demands out in my parents’ home, nor will I tolerate you calling my fiancée that slur. I requested this meeting to apologize to you and your daughter for the embarrassment; not to be bombarded with threats.” Draco stated firmly.
Mr. Greengrass’s face reddened; looking like it was about to explode, but Draco stood his ground and stared the man down.
“How dare you?” He claimed angrily through clenched teeth. “Do you know what this family has done for your father’s company? Your company now! I will pull all of my clients-”
“Actually, you can’t.” Draco cut him off “I looked it up. Those clients can only pull of their own accord and after the Evening Prophet is released in a few hours I am sure they will decide for themselves what they wish to do; especially after I announce my new proposal that can and will make them even more filthy rich. Not everyone in the wizarding world thinks the way you do anymore Mr. Greengrass. The war is over and you heard what the Will stated.” Draco arrogantly claimed.
“You will lose a lot of client’s boy!”
“I may, but that is a risk I am willing to take. You see,” He took a step forward “That mudblood, who I absolutely love, has given me a wonderful idea and I believe it will work. With the backing of the Zabini’s who are no longer prejudice against muggle-born or blood traitors and others from the sacred twenty-eight, who have also changed views; we don’t need you anymore. I have thought this over long and hard Mr. Greengrass. You have underestimated me. I told you; I am not a boy.” Draco devilishly smirked.
“The Potter’s are also willing to invest.” Harry chimed in “I am sure many people will stay with the company if the ‘boy who lived twice’ is an investor and trusts what Malfoy is trying to do.”
“You have got to be joking.” Greengrass laughed. “Potter? Really? That is the best you can come up with Malfoy?”
His wife however was not amused as she sat looking on. She still held hate in her heart but she was no fool when it came to business. She seems to have realized that her husband is just digging them into a deeper hole.
“That is enough Albert!” she demanded as she stood. “Clearly we are not going to get what we came here for.” She angrily stated as she gave Draco a dirty look.
“I will tell you when it is enough, woman!” Greengrass’s hissed at his wife before turning back to Draco. “You WILL marry my daughter or I will tell the world that your mudblood lover lied on the stand during your trial to help you get out of going to Azkaban! I will also say that you paid Potter here off for his testimony as well!”
Draco took a step back as his face fell but before he could utter a comeback. Someone in the room shouted out in anger.
“THAT IS ENOUGH FATHER!”
The room got quiet as Astoria stared her father down.
“Just stop it! Stop with the insults, stop with the treats, just stop! I never wanted to marry Draco and you bloody well know that! Could he have gone about telling me better? Yes, but I am happy to be rid of the agreement! I want to marry for love and to someone I know; not a stranger who is clearly in love with someone else and would possibly cheat on me all because you can’t get the bloody stick out of your arse to see that you have gone about this all wrong!”
“Astoria!” her mother gasped in shock. “How dare you speak to your father like that!”
“No mother! You don’t get to chime in here! You have been quite this whole time and even tried to stop him because you knew he was making a mistake! I am not stupid! Everyone but father can clearly see that Draco has the upper hand here. I will not stand by any longer as he tries to dictate my life and ruin this family! All he wants to get richer, well he can bloody well do that if he stops acting like a child and stays with Malfoy Inc.!” she turned towards a very bewildered Draco. “I accept your apology Draco and I apologize for my father’s rude behavior this afternoon.” She glanced at her father angrily “He clearly isn’t in his right mind at the moment.”
“Astoria! I am your father! You maybe my little girl but this is unacceptable! Daphne would never pull some-”
“There you go again!” She expressed throwing her hands in the air. “STOP COMPARING ME TO MY SISTER! I am not her nor will I ever be! Father,” She stated rather calmly “don’t you understand. This broken arrangement is a good thing. There is clearly a new proposal that will make you rich like you wanted and it gets me off the hook from having to marry someone I don’t love. Why is it, that everyone in this room can see that, except you?” she pleaded.
“Asto-”
“Daddy?... Please just stop this madness.”
‘Well I’ll be damned. She just used the daddy card with the puppy dog eyes. Girl is good.’ He thought with a smirk.
Mr. Greengrass let out a sigh as he looked into his ‘oh so innocent’ daughters eyes. He looked like he wanted to still be mad but Draco could see that daddy’s little girl clearly had him wrapped around her finger.
‘He knew he had to say something while he was still calm, otherwise the lie he told about not needing the Greengrass’s might end up being his downfall. He never asked Blaise or Blaise’s mother to back him nor had he asked any of the other families in the sacred twenty-eight. He eventually planned to but it wasn’t set in stone yet. Potter was the only one who said he would do it and that is even IF he was actually being serious. If he was then it would help keep the company afloat but not by much and possibly not for very long. He needed the Greengrass’s more than he cared to admit.’
“Mr. Greengrass?” Draco began.
The man turned his softened expression towards him as Draco continued.
“I am truly sorry about the embarrassment that I have created for you and your family. I was not thinking when I did it. It was not my intention to hurt your daughter in anyway. But please, listen to her. We don’t need to keep the same old traditions anymore. Times have changed Sir; we need to learn to change with it. If you would like to stay on as an investor, I will gladly still accept you, but you must not threaten me again and you will NOT further offend my fiancée. If you stay, I promise to make you a richer man with my new idea, WITHOUT having to marry your daughter. I promise to change this company for the better.”
“Change the Co-You are the one who has changed boy?” He tried to angrily say but his voice was much softer that it had previously been.
‘He is calmer…It’s now or never. You’ve got this Draco.’
He let out a breath as he looked at the angry man standing before him, softening is features and prepared to change the man’s mind.
“But I didn’t....Unfortunately we live in a society where everyone tells us how to look or how to act a certain way. Who to like and not to like, even who to marry and who not to. We are all under this constant pressure to live up to unrealistic expectations and be…unhappy. If you let people’s perception of you dictate your behavior, you will never grow a person and if you can’t grow as a person then how can you grow a company or even a family?...I can’t give you the answer you want sir. I know that because sometimes in life, the right answer is that there isn’t one. I didn’t change, I just found myself, with the help of the woman you hate so much. It wasn’t easy. Growth is painful. Change is painful. But nothing is as painful as being stuck somewhere you don’t belong. Do you honestly want to stay stuck in the past Mr. Greengrass? Or do you want to grow with me as I build this company up?”
Mr. Greengrass took in a deep breath as he looked around the room. He looked at Lucius who was smiling proudly to himself while sitting behind the desk. He looked back to Draco, releasing his breath and nodded his head.
“Fine…Son. I accept your apology and will continue to stay on an investor. BUT,” He held up a finger “Only if you are true to your word that you will make me richer and that this proposal gets sorted out through me first, before you tell the rest of the world. I want to make sure it is a legit plan before anything else gets done, do you understand me?”
“Yes Sir!” Draco pipped up. “I won’t let you down.”
“You better not…We will schedule a meeting for next week to go over your plan. DO NOT be late to it! Otherwise you will have lost your chance and your words will have been wasted!”
“Understood Mr. Greengrass, I will not be late.”
“Very well. It is getting late and we have other arrangements we need to attend to. I will Owl you in a few days to set everything up.” He turned to his daughter “And you young lady, might have won the battle but you have not won the war. We will discuss your behavior this afternoon, when we get home.”
“Yes father.” She stated as she bowed her head and made her way to the fireplace behind Harry.
She stopped to look at Draco for a second and smiled at him while mouthing the words ‘thank you’. Draco bowed his head slightly before she continued to walk past him. Mr. Greengrass collected his wife in his arm and walked to the exit. He bowed his head at Draco before grabbing some floo powder and disappeared with his family.
Draco felt instant relief flood his body. He quickly sat down in one of the chairs and let out a deep breath as he leaned back in a slouched position.
“That was well done son. I did not expect that to go the way that it did.” Lucius exclaimed with a tight smile.
“Thanks.” He replied still in shock looking up at the ceiling.
Harry had taken the vacant seat next to Draco and looked at him with a questioning face.
“What is it Potter?” He asked not looking at Harry.
“Since when did you get so good at speeches? And when did you talk to the other families and convince them in invest? You were at my house the whole time. I can understand Blaise but even he was at my house and didn’t speak to his mother.”
Draco sighed as bent his head to look down at his hands.
“I am going to ignore that first question but to answer your second one; I didn’t. It was a lie. I hoped he would go for it seeing as his ego is bigger than any Malfoy’s. He hates competition and if one of the other families became a big investor,” he blew out a small whistle “Let’s just say, the idea was to get him jealous enough to stay and to use his ego against himself. The company would actually fall if we lost him. And even if you came on…Malfoy Inc. would only stay afloat for maybe a year or so. No offence Potter, but you don’t have the kind of money to keep a whole company up and running while I figure out this new muggle technology plan.”
Harry nodded his head in understanding but looked to Lucius who seemed to want to say something.
“Whatever your plan is Draco. Just know I fully support you in every way…I am proud of you.”
Draco looked at his father with surprise.
‘He never thought he would live to hear his father tell him he was proud of him. He didn’t think the word proud was even in his father’s vocabulary.’
His heart raced as he sat there frozen looking at his father who was smiling at him.
‘Lucius Malfoy…was proud of him.’
“And if it’s okay with you?” Harry butted in after a few moments of silence. “I would actually like to become an investor. I think it would not only be good for Ginny and I but it would help you out as well, even if it’s temporary.”
Draco looked over at Harry in amazement. He didn’t actually think he would want to invest but he did. Everything was happening so fast it made him feel dizzy.
‘Maybe Titanic did more good for him then just finding his love. It helped make his father proud of him and it helped him find real friends. He wouldn’t quite say family just yet, like Hermione called everyone, but Potter was actually a genuine person once you got to know him. He did a lot to make his friends happy. He was loyal and smart and he was willing to go above and beyond to help him out.’
“If you really want to…then okay.” He smiled lightly.
Harry leaned back into his chair with a smile on his face before he quickly sat up making both Lucius and Draco look at him perplexed.
“We forgot the girls!…Yes, I am including Ron, Blaise, and Theo in that statement…We should go before they all start to think of different ways we have been murdered.” He quickly stated.
Draco let out a laugh as he stood up to follow Harry out of the door, but realized his father wasn’t following and turned back around.
“You guys go. I have some paperwork to finish up here. If you see Narcissa please let her know where I am so she doesn’t worry.”
“Yes father.” Draco claimed as he bowed his head and left the study.
As Harry and Draco walked down the corridor together he suddenly came up with an idea.
“Hey Potter? Can you help me with one more thing?” he asked with a smirk.
“As long as it doesn’t get me killed by Ginny or Hermione…sure.” He joked.
“Trust me…if anything they will love you more. We will need Theo too.”
“Ohh-kay? What exactly do you need both of us for? I am not big on sharing Malfoy.” Harry laughed loudly as he stopped walking to bend over and hold his stomach.
“Is everything dirty to you?” Draco chuckled as he watched the man basically die from laughing. “It wasn’t that funny.” he chuckled a little louder.
“Oh, come on Malfoy!” Harry stood up to wipe the tears from his eyes. “That was a good one and you walked right into it!” he began to laugh again.
“Okay fine.” He chuckled again. “It was a good one.”
Harry let out a deep sigh as he caught his breath, still smiling.
“Admit it. It feels good to laugh for no reason.”
“Just as long as you aren’t serious about it.” Draco stated as he crossed his arms.
“Godric NO! Gross. It was just a joke. Don’t you joke with Blaise and Theo like that?”
“We do, but it’s just…” he trailed off.
“What?” Harry asked in concern as his smile faded.
“We haven’t joked like that since school. I’ve barely seen them since we’ve graduated.” Draco admitted as he leaned back on the wall.
“What about your other friends?”
“What other friends Potter? Crabbe is dead and Goyle wasn’t as much of a friend. He was more of a henchman if anything. And Pansy…Well, we all know what happened with her. Blaise and Theo are my only friends.”
“Well, now you have Ron, Ginny, and me.”
“Why? Why would you want to be my friend after everything I have done to both of you?” Draco asked skeptically.
“Because…Hermione trusts you.” he shrugged “Honestly if it wasn’t for her we wouldn’t be here right now, laughing about a really stupid joke. You also aren’t bad company and you apologized; maybe not directly to me but I count your apology to Ron and Ginny towards me. You are a pretty decent guy once you let your walls down. I assume Hermione was a big part of helping you with that.”
Draco let off a half smile as he looked down to the ground.
“I guess we all owe Hermione a lot huh Potter?” he claimed as he continued to look at the ground.
“I’d say we all owe her our lives.” He leaned up against the wall opposite Draco. “She has done more for all of us than we care to admit. If it wasn’t for her I would most likely be permanently dead, on numerous occasions, AND we would have lost the war. I also wouldn’t have had the chance to get to know the real Draco Malfoy…She is my sister Malfoy. I want to give her the world. I owe her that. WE, owe her that.”
Draco glanced up and realized just how serious Harry was being with him.
‘It was now two times in one day, he was actually having a deep conversation with Harry Potter…and neither of them fought or bickered.’
“I will give her whatever she wants and more.” He replied calmly, looking back to the floor.
“I don’t mean money Malfoy. She needs more tha-”
He looked back up at him with a soft expression.
“I know what you mean Harry…I promise you, I won’t ever stop loving her.”
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1912 Present meet Past *UNDER CONSTRUCTION*

1912 Present meet Past UNDER CONSTRUCTION